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How many goals have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain scored in their careers? Comparison

Compare two football legends head-to-head! Analyze the statistics of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.

By Angel Carrillo Hernández

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain | Photos: @realmadrid
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain | Photos: @realmadrid
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain shared the dressing room at Real Madrid, but their careers took very different paths. While Ronaldo became a global football icon, breaking records and winning countless titles, Higuain had a remarkable career but never reached the same level of greatness. Both were lethal strikers, yet their styles and consistency set them apart. In this comparison, we analyze their statistics and how their numbers reflect the gap between them.

Club goals: Scoring power and consistency

The numbers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuain reveal a considerable difference in impact and consistency. Ronaldo has been a goal-scoring machine in every league he played in, while Higuain had brilliant seasons but lacked the same level of regularity.

Cristiano Ronaldo

With 709 goals in 951 matches, Ronaldo maintains an incredible average of 0.74 goals per game, proving his ability to stay at an elite level for years. His versatility and evolution as a forward allowed him to adapt to different styles and remain unstoppable in front of goal.

  • Real Madrid: 450 goals in 438 matches, all-time top scorer.
  • Juventus: 101 goals in 134 matches.
  • Manchester United (two spells): 145 goals in 346 matches.
  • Most goals in a single club season: 61 goals in 2014-15.

Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain scored 366 goals in 782 matches, with an average of 0.47 goals per game, a respectable figure but significantly lower than Ronaldo’s. Although he had exceptional seasons, his performance was never as consistent as the Portuguese forward’s.

  • Real Madrid: 121 goals in 264 matches.
  • Napoli: 91 goals in 146 matches, including a Serie A record-breaking season with 36 goals in 2015-16.
  • Juventus: 66 goals in 149 matches.
  • Most goals in a single club season: 38 goals in 2015-16 with Napoli.

While Higuain had highly productive seasons, Ronaldo maintained excellence over two decades, surpassing him in total goals and goal-scoring average.

Champions League performance

The UEFA Champions League is the tournament where the greatest players make their mark. In this regard, the gap between Ronaldo and Higuain is massive.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo: 140 goals in 183 matches, the all-time top scorer in the competition. He has won 5 Champions League titles and was the top scorer in multiple editions.
  • Gonzalo Higuain: 22 goals in 83 matches, with an average of 0.26 goals per game, and never won the trophy.

Ronaldo not only dominates in total numbers, but he has also been a decisive player in the Champions League, whereas Higuain struggled to deliver in key moments.

Assists and overall contribution

Both Ronaldo and Higuain were goal scorers, but Ronaldo proved to be a more complete player, contributing with more assists and playmaking skills.

Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Club assists: 223, showing his ability to create chances as well as score.
  • Key partnerships with Benzema, Bale, and Rooney, adapting to different attacking systems.

Gonzalo Higuain

  • Club assists: 87, playing a more secondary role in Napoli and Juventus, where he sometimes acted as a second striker.
  • Although he was a good link-up player, he never had the same creative impact as Ronaldo.

Ronaldo surpasses Higuain in this area as well, proving that his influence in attack goes far beyond just scoring goals.

National team goals

The performance in national teams further highlights the differences between the two players.

Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Portugal goals: 135 goals in 217 matches, the all-time top scorer in international football.
  • Major international titles: Euro 2016 and Nations League 2019.
  • Scored in five consecutive World Cups, an all-time record.

Gonzalo Higuain

  • Argentina goals: 31 goals in 75 matches.
  • Best achievements: Finalist in the 2014 World Cup and Copa America 2015 and 2016.
  • Remembered for missing crucial chances in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and the Copa America 2015 final against Chile.

Ronaldo not only has a significantly higher goal tally, but he has also been decisive in international finals, something that was a weak point in Higuain’s career.

Goals in finals and key matches

One of the biggest contrasts between Ronaldo and Higuain is their performance in key moments. While Ronaldo thrives in finals, Higuain is often criticized for missing chances in big games.

Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Goals in official finals: 20 goals, including 4 in Champions League finals.
  • Key moments: Champions League final 2017, Euro 2016 final, and multiple Copa del Rey and Supercup finals.

Gonzalo Higuain

  • Goals in official finals: 3 goals.
  • Missed key chances: World Cup 2014 final, Copa America 2015 final.

While Ronaldo has proven himself as a clutch player, Higuain is remembered for his mistakes in crucial matches, which has been a major point of criticism throughout his career.

Recent news

In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to extend his legacy at Al Nassr, having reached 917 career goals. Gonzalo Higuain, on the other hand, retired in 2022 after playing in MLS and is currently focused on personal projects outside of professional football.

What you need to know about Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain

  • Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 709 club goals, while Higuain has 366.
  • Ronaldo is the Champions League’s all-time top scorer with 140 goals, while Higuain has 22.
  • In international football, Ronaldo is the top scorer in history with 135 goals, while Higuain has 31 with Argentina.
  • Ronaldo has 223 assists in clubs, while Higuain has 87.
  • In finals, Ronaldo has scored 20 goals, including 4 in Champions League finals, while Higuain has 3 and is remembered for missing key chances.
  • In 2025, Ronaldo is still playing at Al Nassr, while Higuain is retired from professional football.

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